TWINS from Bury have both been diagnosed with the same rare blood disorder.

Pixie-Rose Sellars, aged two, was diagnosed with myelofibrosis and myelodysplasia, a rare blood disorder affecting the bone marrow.

Despite their young age it was hoped Pixie-Rose's sister Presley-Pearl would be able to donate stem cells for treatment. Presley-Pearl was a perfect match for her sister but doctors discovered she also had the same blood disorder.

Their mother Johanna, aged 30, said: "We really struggled with the idea of Presley-Pearl donating, as she’s just two years old, but we learned to accept it.

"The last thing we were expecting was that Presley-Pearl would be diagnosed with the same myelofibrosis."

Pixie-Rose was first diagnosed in April 2017 after her mum, Johanna, noticed bruising on her skin. Blood tests and a subsequent bone marrow biopsy revealed Pixie-Rose had grade three myelofibrosis and myelodysplasia, and would need to have a stem cell transplant.

Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan searched its register and was able to identify a matching donor for Pixie-Rose, who is due to have a transplant in October. It is likely that Presley-Pearl will need to have a transplant too at a later date.

Ms Sellars has become a passionate supporter of Anthony Nolan and wants to raise awareness of the work the charity does and encourage people to sign up to the register.

She said: "We’ve been so fortunate to have been matched with a potential donor, but spending so much time in hospital, we’ve seen a lot of children who don’t have donors.

"These are children clinging on to life, waiting for someone to step up."

Alice Hirst, regional register development manager for the North West, said: "While it’s heartbreaking to hear that both Pixie-Rose and Presley-Pearl will need to have a transplant, it’s great to hear there is a matching donor for them both.

"Sadly, not everyone can find that potentially lifesaving match, and that’s why it’s so important that people sign up to the Anthony Nolan register ­— so that children like Pixie-Rose and Presley-Pearl can have a second chance of life."

Anthony Nolan recruits people aged 16-30 to the stem cell register as research has shown younger people are more likely to be chosen to donate. It also costs £40 to recruit each potential donor to the register, so Anthony Nolan relies on financial support.

To find about more about joining the Anthony Nolan register, or to find out more about the different ways you can support, visit anthonynolan.org/join online.